A recent story shared on Reddit has sparked a debate about a woman’s decision to contact Child Services after her neighbor dropped off her six children and promised to return by Sunday. The woman, who goes by the username “OP,” explained that her neighbor had a history of talking neighbors into babysitting, and although she usually refused, she had been tricked in the past.
Feeling reluctant, OP pretended not to be home when her neighbor came knocking. However, the persistent knocking eventually forced OP to answer the door. The neighbor hurriedly explained that she would be back on Sunday and left her six children, ranging in age from 6 months to 7 years, on OP’s doorstep. Despite OP’s protests, the neighbor quickly got into a cab and drove off.
Left with no choice, OP invited the children into her home. Unsure of what to do, she reached out to the mother, informing her that she expected her back within 40 minutes to pick up her children. She warned that if the mother failed to return, she would have to call Child Services. Unfortunately, the mother did not respond to OP’s text or subsequent phone call. She claimed to be out of town and unable to return in such a short span of time.
Desperate for a solution, the mother suggested dropping the children off with another neighbor, Jennifer, who was 68 years old and in fragile health. However, OP stood her ground and reiterated that if the mother didn’t retrieve her children within 10 minutes, they would be taken to the local council, who would determine if she was fit to care for them. The mother became angry and issued threats, which led OP to believe her actions were justified. OP decided to contact Child Services and promptly informed the mother. The police also accompanied Child Services to ensure the safety of the children.
While OP firmly believes she did the right thing, her husband, who had been in foster care as a child, criticized her actions. He accused her of separating the mother from her children without giving her enough time to pick them up before involving Child Services. Her husband suggested that she should have left the children in the cab or dropped them off at Jennifer’s, as instructed by their mother. He expressed concern about the potential negative experiences the children may face in foster care.
Feeling conflicted and remorseful, OP wonders if she should retract her report to Child Services and find a way to make amends with the children. She had no idea about the difficulties children in foster care may encounter and is losing sleep over the situation. Her husband left for work without speaking to her, adding to her distress.
The Reddit community remains divided on OP’s decision, with some praising her for taking action to ensure the children’s safety, while others empathize with her husband’s perspective. It is an ongoing debate about what the best course of action would have been, considering the well-being of the children and the limitations of those involved.
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With Love and Peace,
Bored Daddy
